Saturday, January 29, 2011

Afghan Delegation Leaves for Iran - Discussing Fuel Ban

A high-level Afghan government and business delegation led by Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal, and including the president of Afghan Chamber of Commerce, left Herat for Iran on Friday to discuss the Iranian ban on hundreds of fuel trucks from entering into Afghanistan at the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province and other crossing points in western Afghanistan.

“The ban is in violation of international trade agreements and would be discussed with Iranian authorities by the Afghan delegation,” said Shafiq Bahrouzyan, a spokesman for Herat provincial government [Pajhwok, 29 January].

The Iranian action in the past two months has caused the price of gasoline and diesel shot up throughout the country. This week, however, the prices eased a bit after Afghanistan imported some three million tons of fuel from Pakistan. On Thursday diesel sold for 53 Afghanis ($1.17) a liter, as compare to 60 Afghanis last week.

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